Puppet control mechanism

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible. Further, another apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure generally relates to the field of puppeting configurations. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a control mechanism for manipulating movement of a puppet.

2. General Background

Various entertainment environments, e.g., theme parks, provide entertainment features having a puppet whose movement is manually or automatically manipulated with different control mechanisms. The control mechanisms can be rods, strings, etc. that are attached to the puppet and manipulated by a human, machine, etc. to initiate movement of the puppet.

With advances in the realistic appearance of virtual characters generated through animation and computer generated imagery (“CGI”), generating a similar realistic appearance for a physical puppet has been difficult. For instance, computer graphics can be used to display and manipulate an animated character without any visible control mechanisms. In contrast, a physical puppeting configuration requires visible control mechanisms that are attached to the physical puppet. Current approaches attempt to hide the visible control mechanisms, e.g., placement of the control mechanisms behind a curtain in front of which the physical puppet is positioned, physical barrier that prevents spectators from viewing the side of the physical puppet where control mechanisms may be located, placement of the physical puppeting configuration in a dark environment where the lack of lighting hides the control mechanisms, etc.

Such approaches are limited to dry environments, i.e., using curtains, dimmer lighting, physical barriers, etc., are simply not practical for a puppet that moves in a fluid environment. For instance, hiding the control mechanisms attached to a mermaid puppet that moves through a fluid environment is quite difficult and impractical. Cloudy water can be used to attempt to hide some of the control mechanisms, but then the physical features of the puppet are also hidden.

Therefore, current puppetting configurations do not have adequate control mechanisms for controlling the movement of puppets in a fluid environment in an invisible and realistic manner. An invisible control mechanism for controlling the movement of a puppet in a fluid environment is needed for a puppeting configuration to provide a realistic puppeting performance.

SUMMARY

An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.

Further, an apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.

In addition, an apparatus comprises a tube that interacts with a puppet device to move the puppet device. The tube comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the tube are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a puppeting configuration.

FIG. 2 illustrates a hydraulic configuration that is used to deliver hydraulic fluid to an actuator of the puppet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A puppeting configuration has an control mechanism that is invisible in a surrounding medium to provide a realistic puppeting performance in a fluid environment. A material is selected for the control mechanism to match the index of refraction of the surrounding medium, i.e., the index of refraction of the fluid environment in which the puppet and control mechanism are positioned. The control mechanism is thereby rendered invisible in the fluid environment.

Further, the control mechanism can also be used as a transit conduit for the delivery of hydraulic fluid from an external hydraulic pump to actuators of the puppet. The hydraulic fluid is selected to match the index of refraction of the surrounding medium. The puppet is then powered with hydraulic fluid that is invisible in the fluid environment.

Therefore, the puppeting configuration provides a control mechanism and a powering mechanism that are invisible. As a result, puppeteering performances in a fluid environment can provide a sense of realism. As an example, an aquariam can use fish puppets that are controlled and powered with invisible mechanisms such that the fish puppets appear realistic.

FIG. 1 illustrates a puppeting configuration 100. The puppeting configuration has a puppet 101 that is positioned within a fluid environment 102, e.g., a water tank, with a fluid 103. A plurality of control mechanisms 104, e.g., tubes, rods, strings, etc., are connected to the puppet 101. The control mechanisms control movement of the puppet. For instance, the control mechanisms 104 are connected to the limbs of the puppet to that movement of the control mechanisms 104 in a particular direction also results in movement of the corresponding limbs of the puppet 101 in that same direction.

The control mechanisms 104 are fabricated from a material that has an index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the fluid environment 102. As the index of refraction of the material for the control mechanisms 104 is substantially similar to the index of refraction for the fluid environment, the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible within the fluid environment 102. As an example, the material can be acrylic as acrylic has a substantially simile index of refraction as water if water is used for the fluid environment 102.

In one implementation, a plurality of motors 105 are operably connected to the control mechanisms 104. Therefore, movement of the control mechanisms can be automated. In another implementation, the control mechanisms 104 are operated manually without the plurality of motors 105.

The puppet 101 is moved in the fluid environment 102 in a manner that appears as if the puppet 101 is moving by itself. Additional props such as curtains, lighting, etc. are not necessary to help the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible in the fluid environment 102. Further, the puppet 101 can be viewed from different angles without any viewing restrictions. For example, theme park guests can move around a water tank to view the puppet 101 from different angles. Such lack of viewing restrictions also helps provide an enhanced sense of realism.

The puppet 101 can also have a plurality of actuators that are activated to perform a particular movement. Rather than having the motor 105 or a human move the control mechanism 104 in the intended direction of the actuator, the control mechanism 104 can be used to be used as a conduit to deliver an activation medium, e.g., air pressure, hydraulic fluid, etc., to an actuator to perform the particular movement. FIG. 2 illustrates a hydraulic configuration 200 that is used to deliver hydraulic fluid to an actuator 204 of the puppet 101. The control mechanism 104 has an inner conduit through which the hydraulic pump 202 pumps hydraulic fluid to the actuator 204. The hydraulic fluid has substantially the same index of refraction as the index of refraction as the fluid 103. Therefore, the delivery of the hydraulic fluid through the control mechanism 104 from the hydraulic pump 202 to the actuator 204 is rendered invisible. As a result, the control mechanism 104 that is used to control the movement of the actuator 204 and the activation medium, e.g., the hydraulic fluid, are rendered invisible. As an example, a puppet 101 in a water tank can appear to move by itself in a realistic manner as the control mechanisms 104 that activate movements of the limbs of the puppet 101 and the hydraulic fluid that is being delivered to those limbs appear invisible, e.g., the control mechanisms 104 and the actuators 204 have a clear appearance that is similar to the appearance of the water in which the puppet 101 is situated.

Although the hydraulic pump 202 is illustrated as a powering mechanism for the actuator 204, other types of powering mechanisms can be used instead. For instance, an air pump can be used to deliver air pressure through the control mechanism 104 to the actuator 204. As air is invisible, the delivery of the air pressure to the actuator 204 is also invisible.

It is understood that the apparatuses, systems, and processes described herein may also be applied in other types of apparatuses, systems, and processes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the aspects of the apparatuses, systems, and processes described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses, systems, and processes. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses, systems, and processes may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a puppet device; a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is a rod.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material is acrylic.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the puppet device comprises an actuator.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic pump that delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an air pump that delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator.
 8. An apparatus comprising: an object; and an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control mechanism is a rod.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the material is acrylic.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a hydraulic pump that delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an air pump delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator.
 14. An apparatus comprising: a tube that interacts with a puppet device to move the puppet device, the tube comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the tube are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the material is acrylic.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the puppet device comprises an actuator.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a hydraulic pump delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the tube to move the actuator.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an air pump delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a joint of puppet device. 